There's perhaps no other place in Washington that is so Washington. Hang out and enjoy the waterfront views. Savor the area's most unforgettable burger. This local favorite has a long line-up of live music, friendly people, and drinks that keep flowing. As a local hangout spot, we promise you won’t leave this place without a new friend. 

Most visitors to Washington are coming here to escape inboxes and schedules and to do lists. Here, doing nothing can be everything. That's why many visitors grab a kayak and head straight to the water. Paddling out on the waves is almost therapeutic. Follow the coastline or kayak over to Castle island, home to a local brothel in the early 1900s. Along the way you may spot great blue herons or occasionally dolphins.

If you eat steak on every day that ends in y, then this is your place. Welcome to Ribeyes. Where the beef is wet-aged 21 days for tenderness, cut by hand, and delivered to your table with a big knife and a promise that your first bite will be one to remember. Can you get a barbecue chicken breast, grilled pork chops or even a salad? Sure. But that would be a huge missed-steak.

What’s better than a great craft beer? How about drinking that craft beer while sitting down by the River? Welcome to Pitt Street Brewing Company on the Pamlico. Fans of this craft brewery may know it from it’s Greenville location. The indoor area has been opened up to allow the breeze and views of the water to fill the space. Outdoors, there are picnic tables by the water. Boats can dock so you can go ashore and grab a pint. Even friends of the four-legged variety are welcome. If you only drink on days ending in “y,” this is the place to be.

Bacon. Sausage. Country ham. If breakfast for you is all about the meats, then head over to Shep’s Grill. You’ll find a menu of all your typical breakfast favorites prepared with a little history and flair. Start your day with an egg plate, piled high with bacon and a side of homemade jams. Or try their famous brisket omelet or North Carolina’s pork sausage. You'll definitely spike your protein intake for the day.

Pull. Bang. Smile. Repeat. Hunter’s Point has the recipe for a great day out. The club, home to the NSCA East Coast Championship, offers guests clay shooting ranges to test their accuracy with a shotgun or pistol. Or, if you are up for the challenge, you can even pick up a bow and bring out your inner Robin Hood. Definitely something you should aim to do on your visit to Washington.

Head to Boss Hogs BBQ. Where your plate is piled high, fork and knife are always optional, and a large appetite is a necessity. This eatery is where you can delight in all the Southern staples of homemade mac and cheese, collard greens, ribs, fried chicken and more. You won't be leaving here hungry. Just make sure you have some napkins before you dig in!

We have all done it. Sit around with your buddies bragging about our previous catches and the biggest. Now it's time to whip out the poles and find out. We’re talking fishing of course. Experience nature at its best at Goose Creek State Park and the tidal waters of the Pamlico Sound. Where else can you say you fished in one of the largest freshwater estuaries on the planet? 

Home to James Beard nominee Chef Jamie Davis, the Hackney offers visitors a true Sea to Table experience. The menu changes almost daily based upon the freshest produce and the catch of the day. From tuna and grouper to shrimp, oysters and the sweetest blue crabs, each dish is prepared with bold flavors, using different techniques to really let the ingredients shine and speak for themselves. Have one of those meals that you will be thinking about for years to come.

Buttery, cheddar cheese biscuits. Not that you need another reason to go to this warm, friendly breakfast joint, but you can expect a bottomless cup of fresh, hot coffee and some fluffy, fresh blueberry pancakes. Savory more your breakfast style? Try the corn beef hash with eggs how you like ‘em. If it’s all too much, don’t take your food for granted, take it to go!

If landing a trophy red drum is on your bucket list, look no further than FishIBX. Book a fishing charter into the Pamlico Sound to battle with these monster fish, or invite Captain Mitchell Blake to guide you on a “mixed bag trip” where your party will reel in multiple species--trout, flounder, puppy drum, among others. Anglers will get an earful about all things fish and fishing. Captain Blake has decades of experience and a great love for eastern North Carolina waters.

If you love seafood (and by that, we mean you eat everything you see) then you are going to love the Washington Crab and Seafood Shack. Fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, and more cooked to order. Everything is freshly caught, and you can taste that freshness. So what will it be? Low country boil, bacon wrapped sea scallops, fried oyster burger, seared tuna? Maybe a combo plate is in order.

Build a place that brings people together. That’s the idea behind the Market Street Pub. This local hot spot opened its doors in 2017, and now, over half a decade later, it’s still the place to go to grab a drink with friends. Pale Ales. Stouts. Lagers. You’ll find them all here along with local bands to keep your foot tapping as you toast another day well spent in Washington.

Small-batch craft brews are a refreshing treat at Washington’s newest brewery, Two Rivers Alehouse. This dog-friendly pub is owned and operated by a group of friends who created a spot where people can come together to enjoy a drink and quick bites like charcuterie and other finger foods. Sit outside and bring your dog. Listen to live music while you sample a beer flight from their 8 taps. Ah, now that’s vacation.